Santa Cruz FC — Quepos Cambute, Liga de Ascenso

Caputos Cambuté secured a vital away victory against Santo Cruz, winning 2-0 in the Liguilla Ascensao regular season on Sunday evening. The result lifts the visitors to seventh place, six points clear of the hosts who remain in 11th after eight rounds.

The opening goal arrived in the 55th minute, giving Caputos Cambuté the lead they needed to control the tempo. Santo Cruz dominated possession at 57 per cent and registered 90 attacks compared to the visitors' 78, but could not find a response. To be fair, the home side had their chances—three shots on target went begging while the away team converted two of four attempts.

Things came to a head in the closing stages. A red card in the 88th minute left Santo Cruz with ten men, and by then the tension had built enough for another dismissal in the 89th. The visitors added a second goal in 90+1 to end the match, though the decisive moment had already passed.

We had tipped an away win at 40 per cent confidence before kick-off, and the result vindicated that call. Santo Cruz's recent form—four defeats in six league games—meant they could not afford another slip, and the double red card ensured they did not.

The statistics tell an uneven story. Santo Cruz won the corners 6-4 and the throw-ins 19-18, but the away side's efficiency with shots proved decisive. Caputos Cambuté stretch the gap to seven points between them and the bottom half, while Santo Cruz cannot afford another slip if they want to climb out of trouble.